US3116102A

US3116102A - Time clock having charge computing means

Info

Publication number: US3116102A
Application number: US69076A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vernon T Kleimeyer
Original assignee: CINCINNATI TIME RECORDER CO
Current assignee: CINCINNATI TIME RECORDER CO
Priority date: 1960-11-14
Filing date: 1960-11-14
Publication date: 1963-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-31

Description

Dec 31, 1963 v. T. KLEIMEYER 3,116,102

TIME CLOCK HAVING CHARGE COMPUTING MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1960 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

"MAJ/1W Dec. 31, 1963 v. T. KLEIMEYER 3,116,102

TIME CLOCK HAVING CHARGE COMPUTING MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 a I a W A TTOEVEYE Dec. 31, 1963 C v. T. KLEIMEYER ,1

TIME CLOCK HAVING CHARGE COMPUTING MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Arroeugjj,

Dec. 31, 1963 v. 1; KLEIMEYER 3,116,102

TIME CLOCK HAVING CHARGE COMPUTING MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

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Dec. 31, 1963 v. T. KLEIMEYER 3,115,102

TIME CLOCK HAVING CHARGE COMPUTING MEANS- Filed Nov. 14, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 181 a v 190 g 20.5

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Dec. 31, 1963 .v. T. KLEIMEYER 3,116,102

TIME CLOCK HAVING CHARGE COMPUTING MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V TOR.

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United States Patent 3,116,102 TllME CLOCK HAVHNG HARGE COMPUTHNG MEANS Vernon T. Klelmeyer, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Cincinnati Time Recorder Company, Cincinnati, Shin, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 14, 1960, der. No. 69,t*76 l6 Qlaims. (ill. 346--2il) The present invention relates to time clocks and is particularly directed to time clocks of the type adapted to automatically compute and make a printed record of elapsed time related rates, such as parking rates and he like.

At the present time, many garages, parking lots, and other facilities which charge on a time basis still rely upon a simple time stamp which is effective to print in one place the in time; i.e., the time when a vehicle enters the garage, and an out time; i.e., the time when the vehicle leaves the garage. From these two separately printed times, the attendant mentally computes the elapsed time or storage time and from this computes the amount due under the rate structure used in that particular garage or other installation. The rate formula employed is quite often relatively complicated; for example, a typical formula of charges might by 35 for the first hour, an hour additional for the next three hours, 25 additional for the fourth through eighth hour, 25 additional for the eighth through the twelfth hour, and an additional 50 for the twelfth through twentyfourth hour. When computing the amount due in accordance with such a rate schedule, attendants frequently make errors particularly during the rush hours of the day when large numbers of transactions must be carried out in a relatively short period of time. Errors of this type not only can cause losses to the parking lot proprietor, but also tend to cause customer irritation.

A second disadvantage of such systems is that it is extremely tedious to check, or audit, the charges made on the parking ticket to determine that the correct amount has been charged by the attendant and has in turn been reported by the attendant as income for the day.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide time clocks which will automatically compute and print in a readily usable form the amount due for the storage of vehicles between any given in and out time. The present time clocks are effective to print an easily read indication of the amount no matter how simple or how complex the rate structures of a parking facility happens to be. Moreover, the indication of the amount due is a direct indication which requires no computation whatsoever on the part of the attendent.

in addition, a ticket stamped using the time clocks of the present invention indicates both the exact in time and the exact out time. This combined printing in one area of a ticket of the in time, out time, and amount due constitutes a principal advantage of the present invention.

As is explained in detail below, in accordance with the present invention the indication of the total charge is made by means of a mark such as an arrow, or the like, which is printed in conjunction with a printed rate circle. The rate circle is divided into various charge segments; for example, a segment, a 60 segment,

"ice

an segment, a $1.10 segment, and the like. When the arrow registers with the segment marked 35, it indicates that the customer owes 35. When the mark registers with the 85d segment, it indicates that the customer owes 85, and so forth.

While the use of a marker and rate circle alone suffices for most transactions, there are during the period of a day a certain number of transactions where the vehicle is parked almost exactly the length of time coinciding with a rate change. For example, in accordance with the exemplary schedule set forth above, a customer who parked two hours and fifty-nine minutes would owe 85 since he had parked just under three hours. However, if the same customer had arrived two minutes earlier, he would have owed $1.10 since he would have been parked just over three hours. In such a situation, the mark appears to lie on the line dividing the 85 and $1.10 sectors. Thus, it would be exceedingly difiicult, if not impossible, for the attendant to determine to which segment the mark actually points. However, in accordance with the present invention, the correct charge can readily be determined by merely looking at the in and out times to see whether less than an integral number of hours or more than an integral number of hours has elapsed.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a two-clock system for stamping tickets. The first or in clock is provided with conventional time wheels for stamping the date, am. or pin, the hours and minutes. This same in clock stamps a rate circle having a plurality of segments marked oil to correspond to the various rates charged. Thus, the first segment might be marked 35; the second, 60; the third, 8 and so on. In accordance with the present invention, this time circle rotates at a fixed time rate of advancement; for example, one revolution every twentyfour hours. Thus, the radial orientation of the rate circle as it is printed upon a card depends upon the time at which the card has been printed. in the present time stamp, the rate circle surrounds the conventional date and time printing made by the time wheels. Thus, when a car enters a garage and the card is initially printed by the in" time stamp, two sets of iudicia are simultaneously printed. In the first place, the conventional time wheels print in a straight line the date and time while around this straight line is printed a charge circle, the circle having a radial orientation which is dependent upon the time printed.

The second clock of the syste. or the out clock, includes a printing mechanism substantially identical with that of the in clock. Specifically, the out clock is provided with conventional time wheels for printing in a straight line the date, am. or p.m., the hours and minutes. However, the out clock differs from the in clock in that the out clock includes a card positioning stop effective to position the ticket so that the out time line is printed on the card in spaced relation to the in time line. Thus, for example, in a preferred system the out clock card stop is positioned to engage the leading edge of the card, and is spaced further from the time wheels than the spacing between the card edge and the in time. Thus, the wheels of the out clock print in a line which is slightly above the line of printing made by the in clock. The printing in both instances is, however, made in tranverse alignment within the rate circle on the card. As a result, the time indicated by the in clock may be readily subtracted from the time printed by the out clock if necessary.

The out clock further differs from the in clock in that the out clock is ads: ted to imprint an arrow or other indicator mark which registers with or points to one segment of the rate circle. in accordance with the present invention, this marker is rotated in a circle at the same time rate of advancement as the charge circle printer of the in clock. The center of this circle is spaced from the card stop the same distance that the center of the rate circle is spaced from the stop in the out clock when a printed card is inserted therein. Thus, on the imprinted cards the rate circle and the locus circle of the marker arrow are concentric despite the fact that the conventional time stamp impressions of the in and out clocks are spaced longitudinally from one another.

The relative orientation of the marker and rate circle is such that when the in and out clocks indicate the same time, 1:00 pm. for example, the marker the zero charge point of the charge circle in the same angular orientation. in other words, if a card is printed by both clocks at the same time, the marker printed by the out clock falls on the zero mark printed by the in clock to indicate that no charge is due. It will readily be appreciated that once a card has been printed by the in clock, the position of the charge ring is fixed on the card in accordance with the in time. if the card is subsequently presented to the out clock, six hours later for example, the marker of the out clock, which coincided with the Zero point of the charge circle at the time of the in printing will now have been driven in an arc corresponding to 9 of a circle, or 90 degrees. Thus, when the card is inserted in the out clock, the mark printed on the card registers with the segment of re charge circle which is displaced 90 degrees from the zero line. The number appearing on this segment indicates the amount due by the customer. In accordance with the rate schedule in the example described above, this amount would be $1.35.

if the marker should fall on or extremely close to a line dividing two adjacent segments showing different amounts due "which occurs if a car has been parked for substantially a number of hours coinciding to a rate change, the attendant can readily ascertain which amount is actually due by merely subtracting the in time from the out time as fa se times appear within the rate circle.

One of the principal advantages of the present clock system is that it eliminates both attendant errors and customer complaints. The present clocks make it unnecessary for the attendant to compute charges, since these charges are computed directly by the clocks. At the same time, the customer can see the amount due on Ms ticket and can thus check to see that he has been charged the correct amount.

An additional advantage of the present clock system is that on those occasions when the time falls right at a rate change, the correct charge can be positively and easily determin d by merely comparing the times printed within the rate circle.

A further advantage of the present clock is that it is a simple matter for an auditor to check the totals due for the tickets entered during the day without the need to compute the amount due for each individual ticket.

A still further advantage or the present invention is that both the in and out clocks re uire onl a minimum number of parts additional to those required by conventional time stamp mechanisms. Consequently, the present system can be produced and sold at a cost not substantially higher than that of individual time stam as.

Another advantage of the present clock construction is that the construction makes it exceedingly easy to adjust the clock to set up any desired rate schedule. In fact, the parking lot proprietor himself, by replacing one part,

Cir

can readily change his clock whenever he desires to use a dillerent rate schedule.

A still further advantage of the present clock construction is that it is exceedingly versatile. Thus, clocks of the present invention can be utilized with standard parking tickets which are first inserted in an in recorder and subsequently in an out recorder. Alternatively, the clock mechanism of the present invention can also be used in conjunction with ticket dispensers in which a ticket is automatically severed from a strip, imprinted, and dispensed to the parker.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from a further consideration of the following detailed description of the drawings.

in the drawings:

FlGURE 1 is a perspective View showing one preferred form of an in clock and an out clock embodying the printing mechanism of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a card bearing both the in imprintat-ions and the out imprintations of the clocks shown in FIG- URE 1.

ElGURE 3 is a top plan view of the out clock of the present invention showing the head pivoted upwardly away from the printing platen.

FEGURE 4- is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through the center of the base section of the out clock and is taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FEGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the upper head of the out clock with the housing removed to show certain details or" construction.

FZGURE 6 is a top plan view of the upper head of the out clock with the housing removed to show certain details of construction.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

PlGURE 8 is a bottom view of the upper head unit of the out clock. 7

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged bottom view of the printing head of the in clock.

FlGURE 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through the charge marking ring and its associated supporting components.

FIGURE 11 is a simplified diagrammatic view showing the relationship between certain parts of the in unit and out unit.

.FlGURE 12 shows an elapsed time card produced by a modification of the present clocks.

As shown in FIGURE 1, one preferred embodiment of a time recorder system embodying the principles of the present invention comprises two separate time recorder units, an in unit 10 and an out unit 11. Each of these units is adapted to receive a standard parking ticket, such as parking ticket 12 shown in FIGURE 2. The in recorder 10' is effective to imprint upon ticket 12 the in time indicated by way of example 2A 11:54 as shown in the line of printing numbered 13 in FIGURE 2.

The in time recorder is also effective to imprint upon the ticket a charge circle indicated generally at 14. This charge circle comprises a plurality of contiguous segments of a circle, the segments being separated by radial lines 115. The charge circle also includes a zero charge line indicated by -16. This zero line and consequently the entire charge circle rotates at a constant time rate of advancement; for example, one complete revolution every twenty-four hours.

On the card shown in FIGURE 2, the segments to the right of Zeno line 16 represent the total charge to be made- The first of these segments is marked 20; the next segment, 40; the next segment, 60; the fourth segment, and the fifth segment, 1.00. The next three segments are marked 1.15, 1.30 and 1.45 respectively. The next segment is marked 1.60 and the last segment is marked 2.00. It is to be noted that each of the first eight segments occupies fifteen degrees/of arc correspond- Time in hours:

Charge As is explained below, it is a simple matter to set up the in recorder lid to imprint a charge circle corresponding to any desired rate schedule.

When the card 12 is subsequently inserted in the out recorder 11 the out recorder is effective to imprint a charge mark 17 shown in stippled lines in FIGURE 2. The out recorder also imprints the out time as indicated by the line 2? 1:57 shown in stippled lines and numbered 113 in FIGURE 2. It is to be noted that both the in time, line 13, and out time, line 18, are imprinted vvithin the charge circle and are in vertical alignment with one another. Preferably, the out time and charge mark are imprinted in a different color from the in time and charge circle.

One preferred form of out clock 11 is shown in FIG- URES 1 and 38. As there shown, out clock 1?. com prises a lower base unit 24 and an upper head unit 21. Lower base unit 2d encloses a printing platen 22, a platen operating solenoid 23 and their associated components; while the upper head unit 21 encloses clock 2d, time wheels 25, a time wheel gear advancing train 2d and a charge marker ring 27.

More specifically, as is shown in FIGURE 4, a base unit 2t) of out unit 11 comprises a cast housing 23 ha ing side and end walls and carrying a bottom closure member 39. The interior walls of housing 23 preferably have cast integral therewith a plurality of bosses or shoulders for supporting various elements of the printing mechanism. The printing mechanism includes a movable platen member 22.

Platcn member 22 is a relatively heavy member having a horizontally disposed upper surface to which is adhesively secured a hard rubber pad 31. Platen 22 is pinned or otherwise secured to solenoid armature 32 of solenoid 23. Solenoid 23 also includes a coil 33 which surrounds the armature and is adapted to be energized hrough suitable electric leads (not shown). Solenoid coil 33 and armature 32 are carried by a yoke and mounting plate Mounting plate 35 extends across the housing 28 and is bolted at its transverse ends to suitable lugs (not shown) provided on the housing. Yoke member 34 depends from plate 35 and is secured to the plate in any suitable manner, such as by means of bolts or the like. Plate 35 and yoke 34 are each provided with a central opening for slidably receiving and guiding armature 32. The lowermost portion of armature 32 carries a compressible rubber Washer 36 which is mounted above an end retainer 37 bolted to the end of the armature. This washer is adapted to engage yoke 34 at the limit of upward movement of the armature. The upper surface of rubber pad 31 is disposed in substantial alignment with a plate 53, this plate being bolted or otherwise secured to housing 28 and having a rectangular central opening for permitting upward movement of pad Ell and platen 22,.

Mounted above plate 38 is a card guide member 6 This card guide extends longitudinally of the recorder and includes two spaced inwardly opening channels 41 for receiving and guiding the side edges of a time card. The center portion of card guide as includes a generally rectangular opening to permit upward movement of pad 3i and platen 22 through the card guide and. into contact with the card carried thereby. T he innermost edge of the rectangular opening formed in the card guide is defined by a stop member 42.

Stop member 42. includes an upstanding abutment face effective to engage the innermost edge of a card inserted within the guide to limit inward movement of the card. Stop member 42 also includes a horizontal arm 4 which is preferably provided with two longitudinal slots adapted to receive bolts 45 which hold the stop and innermost end of the card guide to a bracket member 46 which in turn is mounted to housing 23. It will readily be appreciated that the elongated slots in the stop member which extend from front to rear of the recorder provide a ready means for adiusting the position in which a card, such as card 12, is held relative to the rubber pad 31 of the printing mechanism during the printing operation.

Bottom housing member 2d also encloses a suitable control mechanism for initiating actuation of printing solenoid As is best shown in FIGURE 4, this control mechanism includes a control bar 4 7 which protrudes forwardly from the front face of housing 23, the control bar being slidably received in a recess provided in the front face. Control bar i? is in turn secured in any suitable rnanner, such as by means or" rivets or the like, to a rigid insulated sheet This sheet extends inwardly of plate 35 and is provided with an elongated slot for receiving armature 32 and thereby permitting in and out relative movement of sheet The sheet is spring urged outwardly by means of a spring one end of which is joined to the sheet and the other end of which is carried by a bracket mounted upon yoke 3 The lowermost edge of sheet 48 abuts a pivot bar 52, the lowermost end of this bar being pivotally mounted as at to a vertical support plate 53.

A spring 55 is attached to the support plate and abuts a flange of arm 52. to spring urge the arm in a forward direction (to the left in FEGURE 4). Arm 52 carries, adjacent to its upper end, a switch actuating bar 56. This bar is pivotally mounted to arm 52 as at 5'7. The inner edge of bar 56 is provided with a notched portion disposed to engage movable switch It is to be understood that when switch arm 58 is shifted to the right into contact with stationary arm 69, as FIGURE 4, a circuit is completed from the power lines to solenoid coil 23. This causes the solenoid to be energized and causes arm 32 to be raised bringing the rubber pad 31 against the undersurface of a card mounted in card guide ill.

It is to be further understood that an ink ribbon at is disposed above the upper surface of the card and pad 31 and between the card and time wheels 25 and charge marker ring 27 which are mounted above the ribbon 61 in alignment with the card and pad 311. When the solenoid is shifted upwardly the card is forced against the time wheels and marker ring and an imprintation is made on the card.

in order to insure that the armature is energized for a sufficiently long period to fully advance pad 31, a lock-in arrangement is provided. This arrangement comprises a lug s2 mounted upon the upper end of pivot arm 52;. Lug is disposed so that when platen 22 is raised a portion of its complete distance, the edge of the platen engages lug 62. Arm 52 is thus held in its advanced, or clockwise position, in which contact arm 58 engages stationary contact 69. Thus, these contacts are mechanically held closed even though control bar 47 is prematurely released.

Platen 22 also carries a release arm 63. This release arm is disposed beneath bar 56 and includes an arm adapted to engage bar 56 and lift lilci bar free from contact from switch arm 58 when the platen has substantially reached the upward limit or" its movement. When release arm 63 lifts bar 56, contact opens under its own spring force to deenergize the solenoid armature allowing platen 22 and armature 332 to drop downwardly under their own weight. After the platen has returned to its lowermost position, it becomes disengaged from lug 62 permitting arm 52 to pivot in a counterclockwise motion to the position shown in FZGURE 4.

it is to be understood that housing also encloses other components, such as a locking mechanism 64, a terminal block 65, and the like, which constitute no part of the present invention.

The lower housing 2% also carries any suitable type of ribbon feed mechanism, such as mechanism as, for feeding ribbon 61 across the opening in card guide Essentially, the ribbon feed mechanism comprises two spaced arms 6'7 which are secured to housing as by means of bolts 68. The arms carry two transverse spools 7% upon which ribbon 61 is wound. Two rods 71 extend between arms 6'7 to hold the ribbon in position over the card guide 44?. Each of the spools it? carries a ratchet wheel 69. Each or" these ratchet wheels is adapted for engagement by a pawl formed on the end of an elongated pivoted lever 75, the lever being actuatcd by means of a link 72 which in turn engages a pin 'il carried by platen 22. Each time the platen is raised, link '72 is raised to cause pivotal movement of shaft '76 to which the link is attached.

Shaft '76 also carries an upstanding arm 77, the upper end of which pivotally carries a link 73. Link '78 is adapted for generally reciprocating movement relative to a pin 8th which supports the free end of the link. A mounting pin 81 is carried by link '78 and this pin rotatably supports lever '75. One end of tr e lever is spring urged downwardly by means of an over center spring reversing arrangement including an overhanging arm 32 which is mounted upon pivot pin 31 and carries a spring; 83 having its opposite end attached to a bracket 84. Overhanging arm 32 has two stable positons, a righthand position as shown in FIGURE 3, in which the righthand pawl carried by lever 75 engages the inner ratchet wheel 69, and a leftrand position (not shown) in which the left-hand pawl (as viewed in FIGURE 4-) is positioned downwardly to engage the forward or outermost wheel 69.

When the pawl lever 75 is in the position shown in FIGURE 4, the ribbon is fed from front to rear. However, when the pawl lever is tilted the other way and engages the front ratchet wheel the ribbon is fed from rear to front.

Automatic reversal of ribbon advancement is obtained by means of pivotal feeler arms 85 which are pivotally mounted to arms 67. Each of the feeler arms 555 includes a flange in engagement with the peripheral portion of the ribbon wound about one of the spools '76). When the ribbon on one of the spools, for example spool 70, is depleted, feeler arm 35 which is spring urged in a counterclockt position by a spring (not shown) pivots sufficiently far in a clockwise position that the end of the feeler arm engages the lowermost edge of overhanging arm 82. Thus, when '78 is reciprocated, feeler arm 85 engages the lowermost end of arm 82 and limits return or forward movement of that arm so that arm 82 is pivoted about pin 81 in a counterclockwise position and is thereby held in its new posi tion by spring 83. Thus, upon depletion of the ribbon on spool 7d, the motion is automatically reversed so that the ribbon begins to wind on opposite spool 7t).

Upper read unit 21 in the preferred embodiment includes a housing '79 which is hingedly mounted to the lower base unit 26 by means of a transverse pin 59. In its normal operative position, the upper head is pivoted downwardly to extend parallel to the lower unit as is 3 shown in l. The upper head unit 7? is provided with two longitudinally extending pads '74 which rest upon the upper edges of the side walls of housing as is shown in FIGURE 1. The upper head is held downwardly in its oper tive position by means of a suitable hook-type latch as forming part of locking mechanism As is best shown in FIGURES 58, the housing of upper head unit 21 encloses and supports a synchronous motor 8'7 having a field winding wound about a core Core 9% is mounted between bracket arm 91 and support plate 39 by means of elongated bolts 93 and spacer sleeves 9d. Bracket arm @l is carried by a second support plate 2. Plates and are in turn secured as by means of bolts 93 to cross

bars

95 and 96, the cross bars in turn being bolted or otherwise secured to bosses formed on the top wall of housing '79.

The armature shaft 9'7 of motor 37 carries a driving yoke 9%. This yoke is provided with a radial groove which receives a pin mounted upon a cam 1M. Cam ll-t l is mounted upon a shaft rotatably mounted in boss Cam T131 drives a follower res mounted upon a pivot link 164. Link 1 94 is rotatably supported on a pin 1535 (FTGURE 5) carried by side support plate 92. Link 1% is also attached to one end of an arm 1% having a pawl lid? formed on its free end. Cam ltll, follower 3133, link th s and arm 1% form part of a time advancement mechanism for advancing the time wheels 25 step-by-step in such a manner that the raised type corresponding to the correct day, am. or p.111. designation, hour and minute designation is always disposed in the downwardmost position for contact with the card to be printed.

As is best shown in ElGURES 7 and S, the time wheels comprise a u minute wheel 1%, a tens minute wheel N9, hours minute wheel an am. or pm. wheel 1111, a units day wheel M2, and a ens day wheel 113. Each of these wheels is rotatably mounted upon a main transverse shaft 1M. Shai lid is in turn carried by the side support plates 8" and 92.

Units minute wheel is pivotally mounted upon minute wheel 3l= attached to and is turn meshes with a gear '-1 to mounted on shait 1 eat 116 is in turn driven gear mounted upon a cross shaft Cross 323 also carries ratchet wheel 121 adapted for coerstive engagement with the pawl formed on the .rm 1%. Arm 1% is spring urged in the ratchet vancing direction; ie, to the left in PlGURE 5 by ans of a to n spring E22. which is joined to arm a e-6 and to a pin carried by plate 92-.

A stop is provided for locking ratchet wheel 12?. in place except when that wheel is being advanced by pawl arm Etop arm i i is pivotally mounted to plate L as at and includes a stop finger 126 in engagement h the tee h of ratchet wheel Stop spring urged into engagement with wheel 1121 oi nu arm 12 i is by means a spring However, the stop is forced away fr" contact with the ratchet wheel by means of a lag critic wl arm 1%. it will readily be eciated byt led in the art that upon each complete revolt (which revolution requires exactly one mint" e6 is retracted then advanced to cause wheel 121 to advance one notch. T causes siaft 123 to rotate and 25 to inc-axed one-tenth of a revolucauses it swheel tion each minute. After the units wheel one complete revolut on), the t re-1ent through a cor i 'ncluding two transfer with units adapted to advance trai sfer pinion 1 rot every complete rotaco. in the art will readily a unit minutes wheel a tens minute wheel an hour wheel 1%, an a.m.-p.m. wheel 1%, a units day wheel 192 and a tens day unit whee T33. Exactly the same transfer arrangement is employed for driving each of these wheels from the minute wheel as was described in connection with the out clock.

The in clock is also provided with a plate 194 which, in the preferred embodiment, is identical with plate 155 of the out unit, but is reversed end for end. That is, plate I155 shown in FIGURE 8 is provided with a circular center opening 154 which is of set from the longitudinal center line of the plate. As is shown in FIGURE 8, the center of circular opening is spaced to the left of center plate 155. In the in unit, plate litd has a circular opening offset from the center line to the plate in the same manner as in plate However, in the in unit shown in FIGURE 9, plate 194 is reversed end for end so that h e center of the circular opening is disposed to the right of the center plate rather than to the left. The reason for this will be apparent from the description which follows. It is to be understood that the longitu inal alignment of time wheels till is exactly the same with respect to the ends of support plates l and 186 as is the relationship of time wheels 23 to support

plates

89 and 92 in the out clock.

FIGURE 11 best shows the difference between the in and out units. Specifically, the bottom diagram in FIGURE 11 shows the out unit. This is a diagrammatic view generally similar to FIGURE 7. It is to be noted in FIGURE 11 that the center of marker ring 14-7 is to the right of the printing surface, 0 the axis, of printing wheels It is also to be noted that the stop abutment face 4-3 is spaced from the adjacent edge of the marker ring 147 by a distance i. This distance determines the distance between the center of movement of mark 17 and the end of card 12.

The upper portion of FIGURE 11 shows the in unit 19. As is there shown, the in unit includes a shaft 195 corresponding to shaft 12% of the out unit. This transverse shaft 195 carries the ratchet wheels which are driven through a pawl connected to a synchronous motor in exactly the same way as in out unit. Also, the gear drive to the time wheels 16?. is taken from a gear provided on shaft 195 in exactly the same manner as in the out unit. Shaft 1% also carries a pinion 1% corresponding to pinion 137 of the out unit. Pinion 1% drives a gear 197 mounted upon a shaft 198. It is to be noted that shaft 198 is spaced slightly further to the right than the corresponding shaft 1'75 in the out unit. Gear 7 in turn drives a gear 269 mounted upon a shaft Zilll which is also spaced further to the right than the corresponding shaft a in the out unit. Shaft Ztll also carries a gear 262 effective to drive a pinion 2453 mounted upon vertical shaft 2%.

It is to be noted that vertical shaft 2% is also spaced to the right from the position of corresponding vertical shaft 163 in the out unit. Vertical shaft 2% carries a pinion I which meshes with the gear formed on the periphery of the charge marking ring 18%. Consequently, ring 139 is driven in synchronisrn with the time wheels so that charge ring lltii) makes one complete revolution every twenty-four hours.

ln unit it) also includes a stop 2W. t is to be noted that this stop is shifted to the right from the relative position of stop 43 in the out unit. It is further to be noted that the stop unit ZQi is spaced from the center of the charge ring 1% by the same distance X which eparates the stop 43 from the center of ring 147. Consequently, when a card 12 is imprinted both with a charge circle 15 by inserting the card in the in unit and forcing it against charge ring tall, and then is subsequently imprinted with a charge mark by inserting the card in the out unit ll and forcing the card against marker ring 1 47, the center of charge circle 15 and the center of movement of charge marser l7 coincide. However, the time CII line imprinted by time wheels 131 of the in unit is longitudinally offset from the time line 13 imprinted by the time wheels 25 of the out unit.

in operation, an attendant inset a card l2 in an in" clock unit l6 when a customer enters the parking lot, or the like. This unit imprints the charge circle 1 and the in time 13. As was explained above, the angular or rotative position of the charge circle changes with the time of day. In a typical operation, it would appear as is shown in FIGURE 2. When the customer returns, the card is imprinted in the out unit ll. This causes the out time 18 to be printed above the in tine line 13 and also the charge mark It to be printed. in the card shown in FIGURE 2, the mark 17 clearly indicates that the customer owes 60.

If, however, the customer had parked his car for almost an even number of hours so that the mark 17 would appea to overlie one of the radial dividing lines 15, the exact charge could be readily ascertained by merely subtracting the time shown in the in line from the time shown in the out line to determine whether a custorner was parked less than or more than an even number of hours.

If, after the present apparatus has been in use, tle parking lot proprietor should decide to change his rate structure, his clocks can be easily modified to take care of any new rate formula. Specifically, the out clock ll would not have to be altered in any way. In fact, the only necessary change is the replacement of the charge circle printing ring in the in unit with a new ring having dillerently marked, or spaced, charge segments to correspond with the new rate structure.

The operator, himself, can change rings by merely opening the lock in the in unit which corresponds to lock 64 of the out unit and pivoting upper unit 183 upwardly. Bolts 22% holding straps ffil under the charge circle printing ring list are then removed and the charge circle printing ring is slipped from engagement with plate 194. A new charge circle printing ring is then inserted in opening in plate and the straps 221 are replaced. Upper head 1.83 is then pivoted downwardly, and is locked in place, and the in unit is ready for further use. This change-over to a new rate structure can be made in a matter of a minute or two and the only tool required is a screw driver.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description merely illustrates one preferred embodiment of the present invention. From this description, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend various modifications to which the invention is susceptible. Thus, by way of example, among the modifications which are clearly contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention is the use of the head unit of the in clock in conjunction with a ticket dispensing unit; i.e., a unit which simultaneously imprints and dispenses a timed ticket rather than a unit of the type shown in the present drawings in which a separate ticket must be imprints One form of ticket dispensing clock is shown in Nutter et al. Patent No. 2,795,875. Wire incorporating the present in unit head in such a ticket dispenser the read is effective to imprint an in time line and a charge circle in the same manner as is shown on the ticket in FIGURE 2, and the charge circle is spaced a predetermined distance from the leading edge of the issued ticket. This distance is readily controlled by the ticket feeding and severing mechanism.

In accordance with the present invention, an in ticket dispenser provided with time wheels and a charge circle ring is used with an out clock similar to out clock ll. That is, the out clock is provided with a plurality of time wheels driven at a fixed time rate of advancement and an annular marker ring surrounding said time wheels and driven at a fixed time rate of advancement equal to the time rate of advancement of the charge circle ring of the in unit. The out recorder also i .cl .s suitaudios able stop means for locating the card within the out recorder so that the marker ring is disposed concentrically with the charge circle. Thus, by way of specific example, an in" ticket dispenser could be used with out clock Fill. In this instance, the spacing between the stop 43 in the out clock and the center of marker ring 147 is adjusted so that it is equal to the space between the end of the card dispensed by the ticket dispenser and the center of the charge circle. Thus, the circular locus of movement of mark 17 is concentric with the charge circle as in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1.

Another modification contemplated is the substitution of continental or other time wheels for tl e hours and minutes wheels shown in the specific embodiment described above. In continental wheels the hours are numbered from zero to twenty-three and the minutes can be expressed either as minutes or as decimal fractions of an hour. In any case, the time wheels are coaxially mounted and gear driven as described above,

Additionally, while the specific embodiment of the presour invention has been described largely as it might be used in a parking installation, it will readily be appreciated that apparatus of this type is also useful in many other fields; for example, in connection with various types of rented athletic equipment, such as bowling lanes, trampoline pits, and the like. Vvhen the present apparatus is used in such an installation where the normal elapsed time is relatively small, it is frequently desirable to rotate the charge ring and marker ring at a higher rate of speed so that for example they complete a revolution every four hours.

Still other rates of speed for these units are desirable for specific uses of the apparatus. For example, in an elapsed time recorder it is at times desirable to have the elapsed time ring rotated at a speed of one revolution every eight nours. For certain parking facilities it is desirable to have the time rate of advancement of the charge circle ring and marker ring such that the rings complete one revolution every twelve hours. For still other installations, or example airport parking installations, where the elapsed time is of a longer order it is desirable to have the charge circle ring and marker ring rotate at a slower speed, for example, one revolution every six days. in any event, the desired rate of advancement of these rings can readily be obtained by the use of the proper gear drive.

A still further modification of the present invention involves the use of the present clocks as an elapsed time recorder rather than as a charge computer. Specifically, in many manufacturing operations it is desirable to lrnow the length of time required to perform a particular operation, such as a turning operation, or tie like. The present clock system is also especially adapted to the task of automatically computing and printing elapsed time. All that is required is that the charge ring in in unit id be replaced with an elapsed time ring eiiective to imprint an elapsed time circle 21% shown on card 211 of FIGURE 12. This circle is divided by a plurality of radial lines into hours and tenths of an hour. The in unit of such a system prints both an elapsed time circle and an in time line 212 in the same manner that the in unit described above imprints an in time line and a charge circle.

in an elapsed time recording system there is also used an out unit similar to unit Ill; having a marker ring effective to make an elapsed time mark 213 and to imprint a i sh time line as is shown in Fl -URE 12. The construction and operation of the units for computing elapsed time are otherwise identical with these described above.

The advantage of an elapsed time card printed by the present apparatus is that by looking at the position of the marker relative to the elapse time ring, the elapsed time can be read directly and need not be computed. Thus, by looking at the card crown in FlGURE 12, it can quickly be determined that the particular operation in volved took approximately 4.8 hours. Thus, the elapse time can be quickly determined without the possibility of errors introduced in the subtraction of the start and stop times. However, these times are imprinted within the elapsed time circle in the event that for some particular operation it is necessary to have an absolutely exact time computation. The time lines also confirm the time and date when both the in and out" registrations are made.

Those skilled in the art will readily comprehend various other modifications of the present invention. Accordingly, I wish to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for computing and recording a total charge dependent in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, said apparatus comprising an in recorder and an out recorder, said in recorder having a plurality of rotatable time wheels and a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, said ring having raised indicia thereon for delineating a plurality of arcuate segments and charges associated with each of said segments, means for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for eflecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, card receiving means, and a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in a predetermined position relative to said annular ring, and means for forcing said card into printing contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an in time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a charge circle by said annular ring, said out recorder comprising a plurality of rotatable time wheels and a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, the position of said annular ring relative to said time wheels being offset from the corresponding position of said ring and said time wheels in the in recorder, the annular ring in said out recorder having a marker forming indicia thereon, means for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for eilecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, card receiving means, and a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in the same predetermined position relative to said annular ring as said card was positioned relative to the annular ring in said in recorder, and means for forcing said card into contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an out time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a charge marl; by said annular ring.

2. Apparatus for computing and recording a total charge dependent in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, said apparatus comprising an in recorder and an out recorder, said in recorder having a plurality of time wheels rotatable on a common axis and a rotatable annular printing ring surrounding said time wheels, the axis of said time wheels being spaced from a diameter of said ring, said ring having raised indicia thereon for delineating a plurality of arcuate segments and charges associated with each of said segments, m ns for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for eiiecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, card receiving means, a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in a predetermined position relative to said annular ring, means for forcing said card into printing contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an in time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a charge circle by said annular ring, said out recorder comprising a plurality of time wheels rotatable on a common axis, a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, the position of said annular ring relative to said time who ls being oilset 'from the corresponding position of said ring and said time "wheels in the in recorder, the annular ring in out recorder having a generally radial marker forming indicia thereon, means for advancing said time wheels at a pre determined time rate of advancement, means for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, card receiving means, a stop member disposed for engagement with a car for positioning said card in the same predetermined position relative to said annular ring as said card was positioned relative to the annular ring in said in recorder, and means for forcing said card into contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an out time line spaced from the in time line by said time Wheels, and is ii irinted with a charge marker by annular ring.

3. Apparatus for computing and recording a total charge dependent in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, said apparatus compii 3g an in recorder and an out recorder, said in recorder having a plurality of coaxially rotatable time wheels and a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, said ring having raised indicia thereon for delineating a plurality of arcuate segments and charges associated with each of said segments, means including a synchronous motor and a gear train for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, gear means driven by aid motor 10f effecting rotating movement of said ring whereby said ring completes one revolution each twentyfour hours, card receiving means, and a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in a predetermined position relative to said annular ring, and means for forcing said card into printing contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an in time line by said time Wheels and is imprinted with a charge circle surrounding said in time line by said annular ring, said out recorder comprising a plurality of coaxially rotatable time wheels, a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, the position of said annular ring relative to said time wheels being offset from the corresponding position of said ring and said time wheels in the in recorder, the annular ring in said out recorder having a mark formindicia thereon, means including a synchronous motor :and a gear train for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, gear means driven by said motor for effecting rotating movement of said 'ring at the same rate of advancement as the ring of said 'in recorder, card rereivin means, and a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in the same predetermined position relative to said :annular ring as said card was positioned relative to the :annular ring in said in recorder, and means for forcing said card into printing contact with said time wheels :and said annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an out time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a charge marker by said annular ring.

4. Apparatus for computing and recording elapsed time, said apparatus comprising an in recorder and an out recorder, said in recorder having a plurality of rotatable tine wheels and a rotatable annular printing ring surrounding said time wheels, said ring having raised indicia thereon for delineating ela sed time along :the periphery of a circle, means for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, card receiving means, and a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in a predetermined position relative to said annular ring, and means for forcing said card into contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an in time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with an elapsed ttime circle by said annular ring,

said out recorder comprising a plurality of rotatable time wheels, and an annular ri g surrounding said time wheels, the position of said annular ring relative to said time wheels being offset from the corresponding position of said ring and said time wheels in the in recorder, the annular ring in said out recorder having a mark forming indicia thereon, means for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, card receiving means and a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in the same predetermined position relative to said annular ring as said card was positioned relative to the annular ring in said in recorder, and means for forcing said card into printing contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an out time line by said time wheels and is in printed with a mark by said annular ring.

5. Apparatus for computing and recording a total char e dependent in a predetermined manner upon cla sed time, said apparatus comnrising an in recorder unit and an out recorder unit, said in recorder unit including a plurality of rotatable time wheels and a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, said ring having raised indicia thereon for delineating a plurality of arcuatc segments charges associated with said segments, means inch sing a motor for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined rate of advancement, means driven from said motor for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, and means for effecting printing contact between a ticket and said e wheels and said annular ring, whereby said ticket is simultaneously imprinted with an in time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a charge circle by said annular ring, said charge circle being located a predetermined position upon said ticket, said out recorder comprising a plurality of rotatable time wheels and a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, the position of said annular ring relative to said time wheels being offset from the corresponding position of said ring and said time wheels in the in recorder, the annular ring in said out recorder having a mark forming indicia thereon, means including a motor for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, gear means driven by said motor for effecting rotating movement of said ring at the same time rate or" advancement as the ring in said in recorder, a stop member for engagement with a ticket for positioning said ticket relative to said annular ring so that said annular ring is disposed concentrically with the charge circle, and means for forcing said ticket into contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said ticket is simultane ously imprinted with an out time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a charge marl; by said annular ring.

6. Apparatus for computing and recording a total charge dependent in a predeterm'ned manner upon elapsed time, said apparatus comprising an in recorder unit and an out recorder unit, said in recorder unit including a plurality of rotatable time wheels and a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, said ring having raised indicia thereon for delineating a plurality of arcuate segments and charges associated with said segments, means for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined rate of advancement, means for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, and means for eilecting printing contact between a ticket and said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an in time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a charge circle by said annular ring, said charge circle being located a predetermined position upon said. card, saic out" recorder comprising a plurality of rotatable time wheels and a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, the position of said annular ring relative to said time wheels being offset from the corresponding position of said ring and said time wheels in the in recorder, the annular ring in said out recorder having a marker forming indicia thereon, means for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, a stop member for engagement with a ticket for positioning said ticket relative to said annular ring so that said annular ring is disposed concentrically with the charge circle, and means for forcing said ticket into contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said ticket is imprinted with an out time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a charge mark by said annular ring.

7. Apparatus for computing and recording elapsed time, said apparatus comprising an in recorder unit and an out recorder unit, said in recorder unit including a plurality of rotatable time wheels and a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, said ring having raised indicia thereon for delineating an elapsed time circle, means for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for effecting printing contact between a ticket and said time wheels and annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an in time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with an elapsed time circle by said annular ring, said elapsed time circle being located at a predetermined position upon said ticket, said out recorder comprising a plurality of rotatable time wheels, an annular ring surrounding said time wheels, the position of said annular ring relative to said time wheels being offset from the corresponding position of said ring and said time wheels in the in recorder, the annular ring in said out recorder having a mark forming indicia thereon, means for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time of advancement, a stop member for engagement with a ticket for position ing said ticket relative to said annular ring so that said annular ring is disposed concentrically with the elapsed time circle, and means for forcing said ticket into printing contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said ticket is imprinted with an out time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a mark by said annular ring.

8. Apparatus for computing and recording a total charge dependent in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, said apparatus comprising an in recorder unit an out recorder unit, said in recorder unit including a plurality of rotatable time Wheels and a rotatable annular ring surrounding said time wheels, said time wheels being offset from a diameter of said ring, sai ring having raised indicia thereon for delineating a plurality of arcuate segments and charges associated with said segments, means including a synchronous motor for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means including said motor for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, and means for effecting printing contact between a ticket and said time wheels and said annular ring, whereby said card is imprinted with an in time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a charge circle by said annular ring, said charge circle being located a predetermined position upon said card, said out recorder comprising a plurality of rotatable time wheels and an annular ring surrounding said time wheels, the annular ring relative to said time wheels being positioned so that said time wheels are offset on the opposite side of the diameter of said annular ring from the corresponding position of said time wheels and said ring in the in recorder, the annular ring in said out recorder having a mark forming indicia thereon, means for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time of advancement, a stop member for engagement with a ticket for positioning said ticket relative to said annular ring so that said annular ring is disposed concentrically with the charge circle, and means for forcing said ticket into printing contact with said time Wheels and said annular ring, whereby said ticket is imprinted with an out time line by said time wheels and is imprinted with a charge mark by said annular ring.

9. A time stamp for use in a system for computing and recording a total charge dependent in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, said time stamp comprising a transverse shaft, a plurality of rotatable time wheels, means rotatably mounting said time wheels in coaxial side-byside relationship on said transverse shaft, an annular printing ring, means rotatably supporting said annular ring surrounding said time wheels, said annular having raised printing indicia formed on one surface thereof, the printing surface of said ring and the printing surface of said wheels being disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane, means for advancing said time Wheels step by step at a predetermined time rate of advancement, means for effecting step by step rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, card receiving means, a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in a predetermined position relative to said annular ring, and means for forcing said card into contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, said rotatable time wheels being effective to imprint date, hour and minute indicia in a transverse line parallel to said shaft.

10. A time stamp for use in a system for computing and recording elapsed time, said time stamp comprising a plurality of rotatable time wheels, a transverse shaft, means rotatably mounting said time wheels in coaxial side-by-side relationship on said shaft, an annular printing ring, means rotatably supporting said annular printing ring surrounding said time wheels, said annular ring having raised printing indicia formed on one surface thereof, the printing surface of said ring and the printing surface of said wheels being in substantial vertical alignment, means for advancing s .id time Wheels step by step at a predetermined time rate of advancement, and means for effecting step by step rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, card receiving means, a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in a predetermined position relative to said annular ring, and means for forcing said card into printing contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, said rotatable time Wheels being effective to imprint date, hour and minute indicia in a transverse line parallel to said shaft.

11. A time stamp for use in a system for computing and recording a total charge depending in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, said time stamp comprising transversely extending shaft means, a plurality of rotatable time wheels, means rotatably mounting said time wheels in coaxial side-by-side relationship on said shaft means, an annular printing ring having an annular hub extending from one surface thereof, means rotatably journaling said annular hub with said ring surrounding said time wheels, said annular ring having raised printing indicia formed on one surface thereof, a gear portion formed on the outer periphery of said ring, the printing surface of said ring and the printing surface of said wheels being in substantial vertical alignment, means for advancing said time wheels step by step at a predetermined time rate of advancement, and means for driving said gear portion for effecting step by step rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, card receiving means, a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in a predetermined position relative to said annular ring, and means for forcing said card into printing contact with said time Wheels and said annular ring, said rotatable time wheels being efiective to imprint date, hour and minute indicia in a transverse line parallel to said shaft means.

12. A time stamp for use in a system for computing and recording a total charge dependent in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, said time stamp comprising a plurality of rotatable time wheels, transverse shaft means rotatably mounting said time wheels in coaxial side-by-side relationship, an annular printing ring having an annular hub on the rear face thereof, means engaging the exterior of said annular hub for rotatably supporting said annular hub, said hub surrounding said time wheels, said annular ring having an upstanding shoulder extending outwardly from the face opposite said hub, raised printing indicia formed on one surface of said annular shoulder, said ring having a gear portion extending outwardly beyond said shoulder, means in engagement with said gear for supporting said ring With the printing surface of said ring and the printing surface of said Wheels in substantial vertical alignment, means for advancing said time wheels step by step at a predetermined rate of advancement, and means for effecting step by step rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, card receiving means, a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for pos tioning said card in a predetermined position relative to said annular ring, and means for forcing said card into printing contact with said time wheels and said annular ring, said rotatable time wheels being effective to imprint date, hour and minute indicia in a transverse line relative to said stop member, said line being parallel to said shaft means.

13. A time stamp for use in a system for computing and recording a total charge dependent in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, said time stamp cornprising a plurality of rotatable time Wheels, means rotatably mounting said time wheels in coaxial side-by-side relationship, an annular printing ring having an annular hub on the rear face thereof, means engaging the exterior of said annular hub for rotatably supporting said annular hub, said hub surrounding said time wheels, said annular ring having an upstanding shoulder extending outwardly from the face opposite said hub, raised printing indicia formed on one surface of said annular shoulder, said ring having a gear portion extending outwardly beyond said shoulder, means in enga ement with said gear for supporting said ring with the printing surface of said ring and the printing surface of said wheels in substantial vertical alignment, means for advancing said time wheels at a predetermined time rate or" advancement, said means comprising a synchronous motor, a ratchet and pawl drive actuated by said motor and gears interconnecting said pawl and said time wheels, and means for effecting rotating movement of said ring at a predetermined time rate of advancement, said means comprising a gear train interconnecting said pawl and said gear on said ring, and means for forcing said card into contact with said time Wheels and said annular ring, a stop member disposed for engagement with a card for positioning said card in a predetermined position relative to said annular ring, and means for forcing said card into printing contact with said time Wheels and said annular ring, said rotatable time wheels being effective to imprint date, hour and minute indicia in a transverse line relative to said stop member.

14-. In an apparatus for use in computin and recording a total charge dependent in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, the improvement which comprises a printing head comprising a frame, a transverse shaft carried by said frame, a plurality of rotatable time wheels mounted in side-by-side relationship upon said shaft, said rotatable time wheels being ellective to imprint date, hour and minute indicia on a transverse line parallel to said transverse shaft, an annular ring, said annular ring having an annular hub extending from one surface thereof, means engaging the exterior of said annular hub for rotatably supporting said hub with said annular ring surrounding said time wheels, said ring having raised printing indicia formed thereon on a surface opposite said hub, said indicia and time printing indicia of said time wheels being in substantial vertical alignment, said ring having a gear formed on the periphery thereof, a synchronous motor, first means interconnecting said synchronous motor and said time wheels for advancing said time wheels in step-by-step motion at a predetermined time rate of advancement, and second means interconnecting said motor and the gear on said annular ring for causing step-by-step rotative movement of said annular ring at a fixed time rate of advancement.

15. In an apparatus for use in computing recording a total charge dependent in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, the improvement which comprises a printing head comprising a frame, a transverse shaft carried by said frame, a plurality of rotatable time wheels mounted in side-by-side relationship upon said shaft, said rotatable time Wheels being effective to imprint date, hour and minute indicia on a transverse line parallel to said transverse shaft, an annular printing ring, a plate rotatably supporting said annular ring surrounding said time wheels, said ring having a shoulder on one surface thereof, raised printing indicia formed on the surface of said shoulder, a gear portion extending outwardly beyond said shoulder and bein of a lesser thickness than said shoulder, a strap engaging the said gear portion for holding said ring against said plate, said indicia and time printing indicia of said time wheels being in substantial vertical alignment, a synchronous motor, first means interconnecting said synchronous motor and said time wheels for advancing said time wheels in step-by-step motion at a predetermined time rate of advancement, and second means interconnecting saic motor and the gear on said annular ring for causing stepby-step rotative movement of said annular ring at a fixed time rate of advancement.

16. In an apparatus for use in computing and recording a total charge dependent in a predetermined manner upon elapsed time, a printing head comprising a frame, a transverse shaft carried by said frame, a plurality of rotatable time wheels having printing indicia formed thereon, said time Wheels being mounted in side-oy-side relationship upon said shaft, said rotatable time wh els being effective to imprint date, hour and minute indicia on a transverse line parallel to said transverse shaft, an annular printing ring, means engaging an external peripheral portion of said annular printing ring for rotatably supporting said annular ring surrounding said time Wheels, said ring having raised printing indicia formed thereon, said last named indicia and the time printing indicia of said tme wheels being disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane, a synchronous motor mounted upon said frame, first means interconnecting said synchronous motor and said time wheels for advancing said time wheels in step-by-step movement at a predetermined time rate of advancement, and second means interconnecting said motor and said annular ring for causing step-by-step rotative movement of said annular ring at a fixed time rate of advancement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR COMPUTING AND RECORDING A TOTAL CHARGE DEPENDENT IN A PREDETERMINED MANNER UPON ELAPSED TIME, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING AN "IN" RECORDER AND AN "OUT" RECORDER, SAID "IN" RECORDER HAVING A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE TIME WHEELS AND A ROTATABLE ANNULAR RING SURROUNDING SAID TIME WHEELS, SAID RING HAVING RAISED INDICIA THEREON FOR DELINEATING A PLURALITY OF ARCUATE SEGMENTS AND CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID SEGMENTS, MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID TIME WHEELS AT A PREDETERMINED TIME RATE OF ADVANCEMENT, MEANS FOR EFFECTING ROTATING MOVEMENT OF SAID RING AT A PREDETERMINED TIME RATE OF ADVANCEMENT, CARD RECEIVING MEANS, AND A STOP MEMBER DISPOSED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A CARD FOR POSITIONING SAID CARD IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID ANNULAR RING, AND MEANS FOR FORCING SAID CARD INTO PRINTING CONTACT WITH SAID TIME WHEELS AND SAID ANNULAR RING, WHEREBY SAID CARD IS IMPRINTED WITH AN "IN" TIME LINE BY SAID TIME WHEELS AND IS IMPRINTED WITH A CHARGE CIRCLE BY SAID ANNULAR RING, SAID "OUT" RECORDER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE TIME WHEELS AND A ROTATABLE ANNULAR RING SURROUNDING SAID TIME WHEELS, THE POSITION OF SAID ANNULAR RING RELATIVE TO SAID TIME WHEELS BEING OFFSET FROM THE CORRESPONDING POSITION OF SAID RING AND SAID TIME WHEELS IN THE "IN" RECORDER, THE ANNULAR RING IN SAID "OUT" RE-